Journal impact factors

If you’ve ever wondered about how well-connected and respected a journal is, journal impact factors claim to give you the answer. Theoretically, a “good” journal will be cited widely by others, and have authors clamouring to contribute to it. Of course, unpopular topics like chronic pain are trounced by their flashier cousins exploring things like global warming and new theories of evolution, and there is the effect of advertising and prominent endorsements on circulation numbers, but there you have it.